A/N: Enjoy :)
Chapter Ten
At breakfast, Troy's mother was talking about a premature baby she'd helped deliver the previous day. He hated it when his mom talked about her work but it was better than her talking about the U of A business school. Still, he wasn't listening because all he could think about was Gabriella.
It had only been a few days since she had broken up with the Lawbreaker, but Troy's life was already better and brighter. Honestly, not much had changed: they still met every free period and they'd been back to the lake to go swimming again. But now, Gabriella usually made an excuse to visit him at his locker before homeroom and she texted him constantly while she had lunch with Chad and the others.
More importantly, he knew now that he had somebody who liked him for exactly who he was supposed to be. He knew she wouldn't care whether he wanted to go to U of A, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music or even clown college.
And, you know, being able to make out with her wasn't exactly a bad thing.
He prodded his soggy cereal and couldn't help the smile pull at his lips. He was happy. He still had to deal with his shit, but for the first time in a year, he felt like he could deal with it.
"Troy?"
He pushed his bowl away and quirked an eyebrow at Katie, his sister. "Squirt?"
She rolled her eyes. "Why are you so happy today?"
He knew his life was at a low point when his little sister was questioning his happiness. He glanced at his mother and father. Of course they had noticed his smile but he was grateful that they hadn't brought it up. "No reason."
He cleared his crockery away and left the house without another word. It was now his routine to leave the house ridiculously early, drive straight to East High, and head to the auditorium before homeroom. He settled at the piano, welcoming the quiet. He perched his music book on the ledge, tucked his pencil behind his ear and pressed a few keys.
He smiled as his hands moved across the ivory, hearing Gabriella's laugh in the music that echoed around him. He'd started writing the piece months before he even knew Gabriella existed, but now he knew the song was all about her. It still wasn't finished but he had plenty of time before he had to attend his audition. On the assumption that he'd be invited for an audition.
"Mr Bolton?"
His hands froze, allowing the notes to echo around the empty auditorium. Because it was empty. Right?
He slowly turned to see Ms Darbus, the drama teacher, walking down the aisle towards the stage.
He took his hands away from the keys and shut the piano lid. "Uh, Ms Darbus, what are you doing here?"
She folded her arms. "The spring musicale auditions are today. I have to make some last minute preparations. What are you doing here?"
Bizarrely, Ms Darbus had always been one of Troy's favourite teachers. Although he'd never particularly liked drama, Ms Darbus had a passion for her job and he admired that. She wasn't the most patient teacher in school but when her students showed commitment, she supported them to the end. It was for this reason that she had convinced Troy to play the piano in a couple of talent shows before his accident.
He gestured to the piano. "Baking cookies?"
Ms Darbus cracked a smile, the only teacher to not complain about his sarcasm. "I didn't think you played since your accident."
He couldn't quite look at her. "Ironically, I play more than I used to."
"Good. Do you think you'll enroll back into music class next year?"
Next year. He was just trying to get through the next day.
"I don't know."
Ms Darbus seemed to consider that. "You seem very comfortable up there."
"I don't feel it."
"I assumed as much. To feel scared but to look so natural is the sign of a true artist."
He packed his music book into his bag and jumped down from the stage. He opened his mouth to say something but she beat him to it.
"I don't know what your plans are. Actually, I wouldn't blame you if you don't have any plans at all. But I hope you don't stop playing. Ever."
He looked at his shoes, not quite able to accept what she was saying. "I hope the auditions go well."
"Mr Bolton, I understand why you play by yourself these days. But I hope you'll reconsider music class."
He thought about Ms Darbus' words throughout his classes. He missed music class, learning new arrangements and discovering new composers. But after he damaged his knee, he dropped out of music class, choosing instead to play on his own and focus on composing. He just needed to be by himself for a while.
Or at least, he thought he wanted to be by himself. Now that he had Gabriella, he knew he'd been wrong.
He smiled when he stepped onto the rooftop to find Gabriella already there, her nose buried in a history textbook. When he sat down, she automatically turned to welcome him with a kiss.
"No violin?"
"Not when I have a history paper due in a week and I haven't even finished my research," she mumbled.
He rolled his eyes. He'd grown accustomed to Gabriella underestimating her intelligence, always being nervous before a test and doubting the effort she'd put into her homework. "Because you didn't just correct our history teacher on the dates of the French revolution."
"Our history teacher looks like she's lived through history. She should at least know it," she snapped.
"Calm down, Ella. You'll be fine. You're smartest person in our class," he said as he rummaged in his backpack for his music book.
"What did you just call me?"
He froze, bent over, hand in his bag, his fingers curling into a fist. He hadn't even realised he'd shortened her name. He knew other people called her Gabi but he'd only ever called her Gabriella. He suddenly felt sick, certain that she hated the nickname.
He straightened up, forgetting about his music book, and looked at Gabriella. She was still hunched over her textbook, her brown eyes moving across the page. Her tan skin glowed in the warm sunlight and her hair was pulled back in a messy bun. She didn't look like she'd even uttered a word but she had never looked more beautiful.
"Ella?" he said as more of a question.
She lifted her head and her face brightened as she smiled at him. "I like it."
He released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "Oh, well, good. Hey, um, while you're taking a break from the French revolution, do you have any plans on Saturday?"
"Just work."
Work. He was dating a girl with a job. A girl who was actively doing something outside of her family and school. A girl who was doing something worth mentioning on college applications. He'd sent off his application for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music but it had looked rather bare.
"You have a job?"
"You know The Hourglass on Lincoln Street?"
"That fancy-ass restaurant?" he asked, not quite believing that she worked at such a high profile place.
"You mean the fancy ass, dick, and tits restaurant." She shrugged when she saw is shocked expression. "It's not the most dignified job but you know, money for college."
He nodded slowly. "Yeah. Um, what time do you finish?"
"Four thirty. But I have to go home, shower and do-"
"-yoga with Eddie and Sammy," he finished with a smile. "I know. But would you like to go out? On a date?"
She kissed him and smiled when she pulled away. "I'd love to."
"I'll pick you up at seven?"
"Perfect."
Alex, Gabriella's only biological sibling, opened the door. According to Gabriella, he was fourteen years old, a writer, and a kickass soccer player. And judging from the glare gracing the Latino's face, Troy knew he didn't stand a chance of living if he broke Gabriella's heart.
"It's been a while, Leatherman," he said eventually.
Troy shrugged. "I've been busy. Is Gabriella ready?"
"For what?"
"Alexander," a voice scolded.
Troy averted his gaze to see Gabriella's mother, Maria, walking slowly towards them. When she got to the door, she rested a hand on the wall, evidently short of breath. Alex wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her balance; gone was the protective brother and now he was just a concerned son.
"What have I told you about scaring your sisters' friends?" Maria snapped.
Alex frowned. "Mom, you should be resting."
"I'm still your mother," she whispered. "I'm so sorry, Troy. Please excuse my son."
He laughed. "It's okay, Mrs Montez. Are you okay?"
She rolled her eyes. "Not you, too. I'm fine. I'm going to go and sit down. Alex, tell your sister Troy's here."
"But Mom-" Alex started as she turned around and walked slowly down the hall.
"Now." It was no more than a whisper but it was enough for Alex to run up the stairs towards Gabriella's bedroom.
While Troy waited for Gabriella, he stepped inside the hall and gazed at all the pictures which turned the humble hallway into an esteemed portrait gallery. From floor to ceiling, the walls were filled with pictures: professional school portraits, blurry graduation pictures, and a few crowded selfies. There were different skin colours, various hairstyles, and a few questionable outfits. But there were plenty of smiles. Honestly, he couldn't remember the last time he took a picture with his family. Not even when they'd gone to Hawaii on vacation over the summer.
He admired Gabriella's love for her family. But it was just a little alien to him.
"Are you kidding me? Alex, I swear to god, when I get home I will tear up all your precious little notebooks," Gabriella hissed as she followed her younger brother down the stairs. The humour in her eyes contradicted the anger in her voice.
"Besides," she continued when they reached the bottom step, "I thought you liked Troy?"
Alex glanced at Troy and sighed as if it exhausted him. "I don't want him to know that. Remember, Leatherman: her curfew is eleven."
"Twelve," she corrected as she ushered Troy out of the house and shut the door. "I am so sorry. He thinks he's being all alpha male but I swear, he's only recently started looking girls in the eye."
He laughed and nodded. "I figured as much. I didn't want to say back there but you look great."
He silently handed her his helmet when they approached his bike and he watched her pull it on, admiring her outfit. He'd promised that he hadn't planned anything fancy and she had dressed exactly as he'd imagined she would: white Converse sneakers, faded blue jeans, an Emilie Autumn t shirt and a battered blue bag was strapped across her body. Far sexier than the skin tight skirts and dresses he'd seen other girls wear.
"I'm glad you think so," she murmured as she straddled the bike behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. As usual, her hands pressed into his stomach and she rested her chin on his shoulder, but she molded into his body more, clearly more at ease with him.
He turned the key in the ignition and kicked the stand up, pushing the bike off down the street. He didn't have a helmet and he was driving way too fast but he didn't care. Gabriella loved their bike rides together and that was all that mattered. He loved to hear her laugh and shriek with excitement.
Usually, he rode with a helmet to satisfy his mother's concerns; his bike was just another thing that made him a disappointment in her eyes. But he was willing to do just about anything for Gabriella.
He pulled up at the shore of the lake and felt her kiss his cheek.
"I should've known," she whispered as she dismounted the bike.
He killed the engine, watching her take off the helmet and shake out her raven hair, the red tones deeper than they'd been a few days ago. He climbed off the bike and stepped towards her, reaching for her hand. "It's more beautiful at night, don't you think?"
She squeezed his hand but otherwise stayed silent.
"I brought some food but, before we eat, would you like to go for a swim?"
She shook her head, still looking out at the lake and the mountains. "I can't tonight. But you can go ahead."
"I'm not going to leave you on our first date," he muttered. "But why can't you swim tonight?"
She turned to look at him and quirked her eyebrow.
Realisation passed over his face and he couldn't help but laugh. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry."
She moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her nose into his shoulder in embarrassment. "It's not you. It's called being a girl." She lifted her head to look up at him, a soft blush gracing her cheeks. "How about that food?"
He opened the storage compartment on the bike and lay down a blanket, gesturing that she should sit. He brought out several tupperware containers, two red solo cups, and a bottle of sparkling fruit juice. He sat down next to her and poured her a glass of juice. "I may have a school record longer than War And Peace but I don't break the law. Mostly. No alcohol."
She smiled as she sipped her drink. "I'm impressed. Most guys I've met take every opportunity to drink."
He sipped his own drink. "I'm not most guys."
He felt her eyes on him as he opened the containers, revealing some cold pepperoni pizza, pasta salad, sandwiches, chips, and some chocolate chip cookies. He held out some plastic crockery and a napkin for her.
"This is amazing," she said after a few moments of silence.
He put a piece of pizza on her plate and picked up a piece for himself. "It's just some pizza and leftover pasta salad. It's not exactly The Hourglass gourmet."
"Troy," she whispered, gaining his attention, "I meant being here with you. No one's ever… I mean, Justin never…"
"Never what?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. Never wanted to just be with me. He always wanted a restaurant or a party. I like just being with you."
"Well, I like being with you, too."
They talked quietly while they ate, mostly about Gabriella's work at the restaurant. She explained that her parents taught all of them about financial responsibility from a young age and encouraged their children to find part time jobs when they turned sixteen. It was by no means compulsory and it wasn't allowed to interfere with their schoolwork. But her parents wanted them to learn responsibility before they went out into the world on their own where it wasn't so easy to fix mistakes.
Troy didn't say much, choosing instead to listen to the quiet melodies of Gabriella's voice. He admired the love in her voice when she talked about her family, the light in her eyes when she mentioned her parents. Sitting there together, he knew she could tell him the weather forecast and he'd still hang on her every word.
After they finished the pizza and salad, they lay down on the blanket and Gabriella rested her head on his chest, looking up at the stars. Every so often, he would pass her a cookie and she would eat it quietly.
"Can I clarify: your curfew is at twelve, right? I don't want to get you in trouble."
She laughed and twisted her head to look at his face. "I promise it's twelve. Alex, the little brat, was just winding you up."
He folded his arms behind his head. "Break something down for me: twelve kids?"
She laughed again. "It's mad, even to my own ears. I told you that my mom and dad are from El Salvador. Well, they met in college and got married and knew they both wanted a big family. But they wanted better opportunities for us, I guess. Better colleges, better economy, better jobs. And I know what you're thinking: America was the best option?"
He smiled to himself and blindly found her hand, giving it a squeeze.
"Well, for my parents, it was. And more or less as soon as they crossed the border, they registered with as many adoption agencies as they could find. They didn't have much going for them: recent immigrants, newlyweds, my dad was getting his PhD. But eventually, they got Maddie and they just fell in love with being parents. Three years later, they got Noah and so on and so forth," she explained quietly, running her thumb across his knuckles.
"And where do you and Alex fit into that?"
"We were 'surprises'."
"I assumed your parents couldn't have kids?"
"No, they just really wanted to help people but didn't know how. I mean, my mom never set her heart on a career because she just wanted to be a mom and my dad's a philosophy professor." She laughed quietly. "So they did the only thing they could think of: adopted a lot of kids and loved them with everything they had."
He was quiet for a while, staring up at the stars. It was always so easy for parents, for his parents, to say they wanted their kids. But with the Montezs, it was so obvious. No one would go through all the time, money, and frustration of adopting if they didn't want those kids. And even Gabriella and Alex, the 'accidents', were so obviously wanted. And yet, he sometimes wondered if his parents' lives would be easier without him.
"Do you like it?" he asked eventually. "Having a big family, I mean."
She turned onto her stomach so she was looking at him. She bit into the cookie offered to her. "I don't know anything different. It's hard and frustrating at times, but I know I have eleven best friends by default. And at sporting events or dance recitals or scholastic decathlons, I'm guaranteed cheerleaders." Her smile slipped slightly and she glanced away. She seemed to want to say something more on the topic but said instead, "Something tells me you don't get on with your family?"
He rolled his eyes. "Understatement of the century. I used to, I guess. They were at every basketball game and they were proud of my grades. But after I wrecked my knee, they kind of expect me to be the same guy I used to be. Or at least, they expect me to have moved on. And I haven't, not completely."
He nudged Gabriella off him so he could sit up and stretch his arms behind his head. He sighed and leaned back on his hands. He looked across at her as she sat up and faced him. "They want me to go to the U of A business school. I mean, I don't even know what studying business means."
She laughed and rubbed his arm. "Then they don't know you."
"No, they don't," he agreed. "So, do you want a big family when you're older?"
She looked down at the blanket, picking at a thread. "Of course I do. Maybe not twelve, but definitely more than two. I mean, I'm even dreading college because I can't imagine a life where I don't have to physically fight someone to use the bathroom."
He laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. He remembered the way she looked at little Eddie and Sammy, the way she looked at Alex before they left, the way she looked at Noah who could probably beat the entire basketball team to pulp on his own. He knew she'd do anything for any of them and he knew she'd be an amazing mother.
"What about you? Do you want kids?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Well, I guess I do. I just don't want to become my father."
She frowned and seemed to ponder that. "You won't."
"How do you know? I thought it was the thing to turn into your parents."
She shrugged. "Some things, a girl just knows."
He leaned away from her. "That's a load of crap."
She laughed. "Yes, but crap that works miracles on upset younger siblings. I thought I'd give it a shot."
He couldn't remember the last time he'd had a full length conversation with Katie, much less an opportunity to feed her miraculous crap.
She leaned her head back to look at the sky. "Listen, no parent knows what they're doing. I mean, look at my folks: twelve kids and they still screw up."
"Your parents are awesome, though. They listen to you and smile when you talk."
"Yes, but there's a good way to tell a kid he's adopted and there's definitely a bad way."
He laughed and looked across at her, looking into her eyes. "I get it."
"Look, I'm not a parent. But I like to believe everything my parents do is because they think it's the best thing for me and my brothers and sisters. I think that's what your parents are doing. And I know that when, or if, you're a father, everything you do will be what you think is best for your kid."
Sometime after eleven, they packed everything away and they drove slowly back to Gabriella's house, neither of them wanting the night to end. When Troy killed the engine, Gabriella dismounted and gave him her helmet.
She glanced back at the house and turned back to him, gripping her bag strap. "Thank you for tonight."
He rested the helmet on his lap and shrugged. "Thank you for coming. I'll text you tomorrow?"
"I'd like that." She turned around towards the house but quickly turned back to him. "Can I tell you something?"
"Anything."
"You know how we kissed while I was with the Lawbreaker? I don't want you to worry about that. I wouldn't do that to you."
Honestly, he hadn't thought about it. He just wanted to be with her and perhaps he should be concerned. Once a cheater, always a cheater and all that. But something in her eyes told him she meant every word.
"I know."
She stepped closer wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss. She pulled back and brushed his hair away from his forehead. "You're not Justin."
"What about your family? They could see you kissing me."
She shrugged. "There's no one at the door, windows or on the roof."
"Are you related to Santa or…?"
She laughed. "Noah used to hang out on the roof waiting for Justin to drop me off after a date. He's not there. I better go in and you better text me tomorrow."
She gave him a final smile and he watched her go into the house, already knowing he was falling for her.
